Electric switch



sept- 18, 1928,

T. A. BCTH ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Dec. 19. 1924 EMail/O1 Patented Sept. 18, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TONJES A. BOTH, OF STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE CONNECTICUT ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BRIDGE'EORT, CONNECTICUT, A COR- PORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application led December 19, 1924. Serial No. 756,902.

This invention relates to mountings for wall Switches, and has for an object to provide an .improved mounting for these switches which will be thoroughly insulated at the front so thattherewill heno. danger of the operator coming in contact with any live element and receiving a shock, in which the means for. securing theswitch in the outlet box is greatly simplified, and in which the switch-.and cover plate are mounted-in positionin one operation so no-separate adjustment ofthe, switch support is required.

-With the lforegoing.y and other objects in view,;-lhaveflevised the construction illustrated in-.the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specication, similar reference charactersb'eing. employed throughout 'f the various figures; tuindcate corresponding elements. nln this drawing,-

., y 'Figll isa irontielevation of one form of myr-improved switch mounting.

Fig. 2 is asideviewfshowing' the position ofa wall1out-let box,-the upperhalf of the device being shown; insection, the-section being substantially: on.- line 2-..2 ;of. Fig. .4. v'i I1`ig.'' 3-"is arearrelevationbfthe;device. .l Fig..- 4nis-'a rear-elevatiorzwithvthe cover forthereanopeniside' ofthe switchbox re-V -ig. 5a partial: side elevation and partial section of avslightl-y different; construc- I nary constructionIis'rnounted 'In the'present case, however, instead of using aseparate yoke for carrying? the .switch andl theinsulating block in which itfis mounted, the insulating switch boxl'or block' is :molded in one piece withthec'overxplate ofinsulating material,

and the cover plate and switch box are mounted on the wall and-secured to the outlet box 10 by Vscrews extending through'the cover plate and. threaded into the ears 11.

. In the'drawing'the insulating box or block for. the switch mechanism is indicated at 12 and itis molded in one piece with` the cover plate 13 and of insulating material. This cover plate is providedwith counterbored,

screws seating in the countcrbores o these openings. A separate insulating element comprising a head 17 of insulatingmaterialv has a shank 18 threaded into a tapped opening in the head of the screw 16 so that there is no possibility of the hands 1 of -the operator coming in contact withA the screw. Thus the device is an entirely dead front device.

The box 12 is open at its rear side to facilitate mounting of the switchmechanism within this box and also to allow easy access to the switch elements for inspection, adjustment and repair purposes. Such mechanism may be of any desirable type.. In the present case 1t is a toggle switch comprising a pair of swinging contact blades4 E19 adapted to bridgel stationary contacts 2() mounted inthe bloc-k'by any suitable-means, such as bushings 21 molded in the block and having a' head 22 projecting through Vopenings-in the contacts and riveted` over. These contacts also carry the box or plate and having theinfree ends extending through openings in ears 29 ofthe support andrivetedover as shown at V30, After the switch mechanism has beenV mounted in the box the open rearend may be closed by a cover plate 31. In. Figs-.2, 3 and 5 this plate is a metallic plate secured over thez open end of the box by means of screws 32 threaded into the bushings 28, and a suitable insulating lining 33, such as a fibieplate, is provided for the inside of this cover plate to prevent any of the electrically live elements. coming in contact with the plate, and when in position the platewill rest between the edges of the sides, and against the ends of the box.

slightly elongated openings 14 for passage of In Fig. 6 the closure or cover plate for the open rear end of the box, instead of being a metal late with an insulating lining as shown 1n Figs. 2, 3v-and 5, is closed by the plate 34 of insulati'nvmaterial secured to the box by screws 35 in tie same manner as is the metal pla-te. In this form however, it is preferred to form integral ears 36 on the ends of the plate to extend into engagement with the bod of the box 12, doing away with the relative y narrow end walls 37 on the box as shown in Figs. 2, 4 and 5,'which may be liable to be easily broken oil".

It isbelieved the advantages of this construction will be obvious. The switch box separate elements,I more parts were required,

which required a numberof-'difierent mounting operations, and the switch blockhad to be adjusted' 0n its-support'to lie in proper relation4 tothe cover plate.- In actual operation '5 however, it is diiiioult to secure the"'proper adjustment to bring the'switch mount-ing in proper alignmentlwith'the cover plate, giving an unsightly appearance and interfering more or less with the proper operation ofA the I? switch. The present 'construction also gives ain' entirely dead front installation, and the whole installation including the 'cover' plate and -switch may be 'lremoved from the' wall box by merelyremoving 'the pair 'or screws 15;;

- Having thus setforth-thenature of my- -invention-,v'vhat I claim-- isz* f -2 `is i ""l-.f 'In combinaton,a coverplate' of molded -insulatngmaterial-adapted to oo veri the open` side' of a'walloutl'eEbox,a-boxiporton comd i-'ng"rearwardly-ffro'm'-the ck ofsaid plate andfmold'ed'in one `PieCeL'With said cover plate en thjef rear? side thereof, switch mechanism mounted in? said box, and swit'choperating means projecting through-saidplate to the f-f2.-'Incombination, a coverplate of molded insulating material adapted-to` cover the open side of afvwall outlet box, a box portion comprising walls of v insulating material extendlng rearwardly romthe ackiof saidV plate and molded in one piece -Wit-h said lcover plate on the rear sidethereof, saidsbox being open at' its rear side,-'switch mechanism mounted in the box', a removable closure-plate for the open rear side ofthe box, and' switch operating means projectingthrough the first plate to the front thereof. Y

' 3. In combination, an outlet box, a cover plate for the open side of said box molded of insulating material, means carried by the plate and engaging the box for securing the plate to thc box, a switch box molded integral with said plate on the back wall thereof1 switch mechanism mounted in said latter box. and means at the front of the plate for operating the switch. e

Il. In combination, an Outlet box, a cover plate for the onen side of said box; molded of insulating material, means carried by the plate for securing the plate directly to thc box, a switch box molded integral with said plate on the back wall thereof and open at its rear side, switch mechanism mounted in said latter box, a removable closure for the open' gli ed bushings in the box and first mentioned plat-e, screws passing through 4t-he second plate and threaded into said bushings to re. movably secure the closure to the box, switch mechanism mounted inthe box and 'means projecting through the firstplate for operat. ing the switch.

S. A mounting f or electrical switches com. prising a cover plate adapted to cover the open side of a wall' outlet box and a switch box comprising rearwardly extending walls 1i on the back of the plate molded in one. piece therewith of insulating material..

- 7. A mounting for electrical switches come. prising a cover plate adapted to c over the open side of a wall outlet box and a switch box comprisingrearwardly extending` walls on'the back ofthe plate molded inv one piece therewith of-insulatingmaterial and forminor a compartment for switch mechanism,..sai'

compartment being openat its rear side,.and 1;

the plate being: providedi Withair-:opening of a switch operating means. 8. A device of the character described comleading Vto said compartment4 for the-passage prising a' cover plate and a switchbox molded L in one piece of insulating material with `the box comprising walls. projecting from the rear A-side of the plate, said plate being ofa size to cover the open side of a wall outlet box,

switch mechanism mounted in the switch box being of a size to cover the open Side of a wal-l outlet box and the switch box being open through its rear wall, switch mechanism mouutedin the swltch box, a closure plate for said open rear side of the switch box, and switch operating means extending through the cover plate to the front side thereof.

10. An electrical switch device comprising an integral mounting of molded insulating material including a face plate adapted to cover the open side of a Wall outlet box and Walls extending rearwardly from the back of said plate molded in one piece With it, said Walls forming a compartment open at the rear, said plate portion being provided with an opening leading to said compartment, switch mechanism mounted in said compartment, switch operating means extending a through said opening to the front of the plate,

and a cover for the open rear side of said compartment.

l1. In combination, a Wall outlet box, an

electrical switch device comprising an integral mounting of molded insulating material including a cover plate for the open side of said box and Walls extending rearwardly from the back of said plate molded in one piece With it and forming a compartment, said plate portion having an opening leading to said compartment, switch mechanism in said compartment, switch operating means of insulating material projecting through said opening to the front of the plate, screws extending through the plate for securing the device to the box, and heads of insulating material for said screws forming with the plate and switch operating means an entirely electrical dead front device.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

TONJES A. BOTH. 

